Brooder house



R. FERGUSON Aug. 8,` 1933.

BROODER HOUSE Filed July 25 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet R. FERGUSON Aug. 8, 1933.

BROODER HOUSE Filed July 25 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet ww qw www.

GMM/Ymte Patented Aug-.is,"1f9ea d. y 1,921,352..` l"

'riffs 1 1,921,352 v BRooDER 'HoUsEvjvf r iRay Ferguson, Escatawpa,v Mj s`s. Application [July 25,1930.' sentirne; 470,736 vvciiiims. (01. 11s-L31) TheV invention is concerned with an improven Figure 1 is a vertical, central sectional View of a ment in theform AandY the arrangement` of a broeder house embodying the invention, on the structure intended to house', confine, sustainyand line i+1 of Figure 2lookin`gin the direction indi-k. control the movements of avery largernumbcr catedby the arrows. if Y 5 of delicate young iowl, or chicks, when receivedy Figure Eris ahorizontal'sectional View onthe line'yo directfrom they lincubator hatchery andV reared 2 2 of Figure 1.12 y y under artificial conditions. ,d Figure is an enlargedfragmentary sectional f .Oneoftheprincipal objects of the inventionis View o nthe line 3 3 of Figurel 1. j the'provision of a structure whichwill prevent vFigure 4 is fan enlarged fragmentaryv sectional 10 the" transmission of infectious; germsV causing View of a side portion oft-the brooder house. 65 white diarrhea, cholera, and other poultry dislFigure is an enlargedfragrnentary sectional eases within the brooder house andto-,overcome v'iew'of'part of aside wall. n j other diiiculties and hazards incident to` baby I Corresponding andlikefparts are referred to in' chicks when reared in very large numbers under, the .following description and. designated in the 175,' artificialconditions, and to provide a structure `several views of, the-drawings. by like reference 79;

for use as a broeder house wherein the form and characters. Y

arrangement of the structure creates anr environ- A brooder house-constructed in accordancewith ment exceptionally f favorable for the vpreservathis invention is approximately of pyramidal .out-1 tion oflife,fprevention oi disease and debility,-and line and comprises a substructure preferably Yof the promotion of health and growth of the baby .concrete and a superstructure including side walls chick occupants and, by'thus decreasing debility comprising a metal frame, a sheetv metal coverand mortality and promoting health and growth; ing, and a lining of insulating material. The ,en-,-4

to increase the profits of the poultry raiser. closing Walls ofk the substructure .are` vertical rThese objects are attained by-providingastrucwhereas the vwalls-of the superstructure vincline .25. ture of pyramidaloutline,theplanvand arrangev'upwardly and-'inwardly and *areconnectedto a. 8`1T.

. 3 'gree recognized as the most benejcial for life, regulator-operates between the ceiling ofthe 45? Y While the drawings illustrate a'preierred em- 'therequired adjusted position.J AIn this-manner,l

ment of which provides within the quarters occeiling in which is formed V a centrally disposed cupiedby the baby chicks, lfora properl supply of circular, opening l which' both admits air and Vand the proper utilization by the individual chick, provides an escape, for foulair. A draft, regu- Y of warmth, sunlight,.fresh air, sanitation, food la-tor2 snugly tswithin" the opening 1 .and' is 3 and drink, and theV control of each of lthese vital adjustable;vertically` tov v control the ,ingress of-,85.

factors with aminirnum of attention by'thecarefresh air and the egress vof warm and vitiated taker, and in such kmanner thatv each individual air. ,The draft regulator? consists of a-ring orl chick is afforded the use of each of the above enu band connected to Va sleeve iA which is slidably meratedivital factors in the st ate vrandtov the demounted upon a centrally disposed shaft 3. ilhe .90

'health and growth, and, at the `same time, is prohouse and aroof 5 which isisupported upon, and tected from the baneful influence of excessiveheat spaced Vfrom the ceiling. An open helical spring or coldnfoul air, or foul quarters, food'or drink. 6 mounted upon .the shaft 3V normally exerts an, In the environment created andmaintained withupward pressure Aon Athesleeve 4 to hold the regin the living quartersby-this invention, no morel yulator against the roof 5,k to` .prevent passage' of reliance is placed upon the baby chick to instinc-` air through the opening 1 into or vout from the tively select the beneficial from the harmful than house. VA chain l'7 is connectedV to the sleeve4 4 f is given `a human infant of like immature develand is adaptedgto engage vahook f8`orj like part opment. 1 carried by,Y the shaft r3 to hold thel regulator in bodiment of the invention, it is to be understood the draft regulator is adapted to be set by hand.' that in adapting themeans to meetspecic needs If preferred, a thermostat; 8 maybe employed to and requirements, they design may be varied and automatically control the ventilation by .adjustchanges in the minor;detai ls of construction may mentor ythe draft regulator 2 in armanner well 105 begresortedto within the scope of the invention-as understood in brooder structures... v

claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof. The circumscribing wall 9 o fthe substructure rFor a full understanding of the invention and is preferably concrete and of polygonal outline,` the merits thereof, reference is'toy be had to the depending upon the number of sides rembodied following descriptionand the drawings heretoat- `in the structure. As shown, the structurer-is of 110 551 tached ,in which: I a oetagonal formation, the, sides of the Vsuperstructure resting upon the walls 9 and being secured thereto, as indicated most clearly in Figure l of the drawings. The upper side walls include a metalframing of angle bars, a covering 10 or sheet metal, a nller 11 of insulating material, and a lining 12 of wood. As indicated most clearly in Figure oi the drawings, the sheet metal covering 10, lining l2, and insulation 1l, are connected by means of bolts 13 upon which are mounted spacers to hold the covering 10 and lining 12 apart the required distance. Angle bars 14 rest upon the walls 9 and are anchored thereto by bolts 15. rIhe lower ends of the upper side walls are riveted or otherwise secured to the angle irons 14. The upper ends of the side walls are secured to theY ceiling 16 by means of angle bars 17. Angle bars 18 are provided at'the meeting edges of the sides 10 and are bolted, as indicated most clearly in Figure 3 of the drawings. Cap strips 1.9 extend over the joints formed between the adjacent edges of the side walls, thereby resulting in a substantial and tight joint between theside walls. Windows 20 are provided in the upper side walls and are designed solely for the transmission Aof sunlight and make no provision for ventilation.V These windows allow `for penetration and diusion of the ultra-violet sun rays and their utilization s within the-structure at all times from sunrise to j sunset. Y

A floor subdivides the superstructure from the substructure and comprises a central portion 2l and an outer portion 22. The central portion 21 is preferably of circular outline. A substantially annularspace 23 separates the floor sections 21 and 22 and constitutes a passageway for a caretaker to service the chicks. The floor sections 21 and 22 consist of wire netting or analogous openworkto admit of refuse, chick droppings and other matter escaping readily, to be subsequently' removed, thereby preventing contraction and transmission of disease from one chick to others.

r Trays 2irare suitablyl supported below the respective floor sections 21 and 22 to catch the droppings to admit of removal thereof from time tor time, as desiredto insure sanitary conditions.

A hinged bridge '26 spans the passageway 23 and connects the floor sections 2l and 22 so that the chicks may pass from the central section 21 t'o the'outer section 22 as indicated by the arrows in Figure 2 of the drawings. spaced vertical bars v 30 are preferably arranged on opposite sides of the bridge 26 to confine thechicks thereon when passing from the inner to the outer sections. Troughs 27 are located vat the sides of the passagewayv23 and contain food and drink.

s A grill 28 is located about in line with the inner side of the runway or floor section 22 and extends 66;; vertically a-short distance to admit of chicks readily reaching the outer troughs from the runway 22. lA screen guard 29 connects the top of the grill 28 with'sides l0 of the superstructure. It will thus be understood that the chicks occupying the runwayl 22 are conned thereto but may readily obtain foodv and drink. A vertically movable grill 30 is located at the outer edge of the iioor section 21 and'eXtends vertically a short distance. A verticallymovable screen guard 31 is located above the grillV 30 and serves to conne the chicks to the oor section 21. Radial bars or braces 20 preferably connect the grill 3G and thermostat 8 soas to center the latter within the inner section. Vertically disposed guide rods 32 retain .A the guard 31 and grill 30 in position, said guard and lgrillbeing provided with guide loops or eyes through which the vertical guide rods 32 pass,- Doorways are provided for ingress to and egress from the brooder house. These doorways are closed by doors 33. The doorways are located for convenience, at opposite points and extend through lower portions of the superstructure and are closed by gables 34. Sections of the runway 22 in line with the doorways are movable, as indicated at 35, and are preferably hinged to turn aside to admit of a person entering or leaving the broeder house, as will be readily appreciated.

The broeder house may be heated in any determinate manner and, as indicated, radiators 36 are provided and may be supplied with hot water or steam from a suitable source. When'the draft vregulator 2 is elevated to extend across the space ing the'chicks as may be desired, and communif cation between the sections maybe maintained by closing the bridge 26. lThe doorways and passageway 23 provide convenient means for caring for the chicks. Should the trays 24 be omitted, the droppings may be readily removed from the structure ydesigned to receive and support said trays.

What is claimed is:

1. A broeder house including an enclosed runway for the chicks, and a passageway within the runway, the latter having a movable section,'and a doorway in connection with said passageway and in line with the movable section of the runway.

2. A brooder house having a runway adjacent thev enclosing walls, and having a passageway interior of the runway, a grill separating the runway from the passageway, aV movable section in the runway giving access to the passageway, and troughs adjacent the passageway and readily accessible therefrom for servicing and separated from the runway by the said grill.'

3. A brooder house comprising a centrally disposed oor, an outer door section spaced from the center floor. section to provide an Yintermediate passageway, the outer oor section having a movable section to give access to the passageway, grills at the sides of the passageway, guards at the tops of the grills, and troughs at the sides uof the passageway'and separated from the floor prising a centralY portion and outer portion sep` arated by an approximately circular passageway,A grills and screen guards at the sides of the passageway, and having doorways opening from the passageway, the outer iioor rsection having movv able parts in line with the doorways, and troughs adjacent said passageway, the floor sections being of openwork for the ready discharge of refuse matter.

5. A broeder house comprising an elevated central floor section, an outer floor section in the plane of the central oor section and spaced therefrom to define a passageway for attendants, the walk for said passageway being at a lower level than the oor sections, anda bridge connecting the floor sections across the passageway,

Y formed between the roof 5 and ceiling 16, passage rit ist

iso

ist

the outer iioor section having a movable portion giving access to the passageway.

6. A brooder house comprising an elevated central oor section, and an outer iioor section in the plane of the central floork section and spaced therefrom to deiine a passageway for attendants, the walk for said passageway being at a lower level than the ioor sections, the outer floor section having a movable portion giving access to the passageway from outside the broeder house.

7. A brooder house having a centrally disposed oor anda substantially circular passageway exterior thereto, a vertically movable grill separat- 

